Eagles View, South Australia.

Back at Deb and Ian's for a very short stop off to repack for the next part of the adventure.

Australia, Day Seventeen.

 

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

Today was a day around the farm, sorting things out after our trip up to the North West, around the house I picked up a few species including New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

Early on I helped with the feeding and then went out on to the far fields with Ian to check on the cattle out there, all was good and as we went round Ian showed me the nest of the resident pair of Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which was high up in the top of a tall Eucalyptus trees.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

In the same area we added Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) and lots of Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) female.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) winter male.

Later I had a walk around the garden where I had nice views of a male Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) in the newly prunned fruit trees along with a good number of female and winter males.

Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis).

Also seen in the garden were European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) and White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis).

South back to Eagle View, South Australia.

Heading back south after an amazing few days in a wonderful part of the country.

Australia, Day Sixteen.

 

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) female.

We left Coober Pedy early as it was a long drive back South, felt quite sad to be leaving this great area but very privileged to have been given the chance to go there at all, thanks to all involved.

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) male.

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) male.

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) female.

Anyway around Coober Pedy we started the day list with Little Crow (Corvus bennetti) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and as we went on south to our first stop at a flood / lake just North of Glendambo, on our way we picked up Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Budgie's (Melopsittacus undulatus), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula) and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

We parked on the roadside by the area of water where we were pleased to find a small number of Orange Chats (Epthianura aurifrons) as well as Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Musk Duck (Biziura lobata), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) and lots of Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus).

Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus).

Red-necked Avocets (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae).

We continued on again making a quick stop at Lake Hart Rest Area to get a view over the massive lake which in most years is dry, here we just picked up a single Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae). 

Emu's (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Just a short way along the road Ian pulled off on to the verge so the Deb and I could go and check a flock of waders that were on another lake but not far from the road, we found a single Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) a difficult to see in amongst a fock of several Red-necked Avocets (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) and off a short way along the shore a group of Grey Teal. 

Lake Hart.

We continued on South adding a family of Emu's (Dromaius novaehollandiae) to the trip list as well as 2x Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black-shouldered (Elanus axillaris), Whistling (Haliastur sphenurus) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) before we reached Eagle View after a long drive for Ian and Deb but an amazing few days.

Part of a huge goods train also heading south.

Looking East from the road to the Flinders Ranges.

North of Marla and then South to Coober Pedy, South Ausralia.

Mopping up on the Falcon species.

Australia, Day Fifteen.

 

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).

Before we headed about 45 minutes south of Marla we saw Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).

Spear Bush (Pandorea doratoxlon).

On the way south we had views of Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Black (Milvus migrans) and Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) and Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea).

Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii).

Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii).

Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii).

Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii).

We left the main road and drove out to the low range of hills we were going to be visiting looking for the rare Spinifexbird (Eremiornis carteri), on the drive to the start of the walk we saw Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

We got our kit together and walked along a good track up onto the top of the ridge, on the way up seeing Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis) and Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Zebra Finch, Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus), a very smart and well behaved male Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata) and small numbers of the large and fast moving Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus).

Termite mound.

Eremohila species.

Large Green Pussytail (Ptilotus macrocephalus).

As hard as we searched we did not find the Spinifexbird so we dropped back down to the car adding Black-faced Cuckooshrike, White-fronted (Purnella albifrons) and White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) and Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum).

Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Once back at the vehicle we went to the S**t Ponds near the village before we got back to the main road, here we picked up Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), both Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) and White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

We headed back towards the main road seeing a really big flock of Budgies on the way, we then drove North past Marla to have a look for Black Falcon (Falco subniger) at the pools we had called at on the way south yesterday but today as soon as we arrived we saw the male Black Falcon in the trees on the far side of the pool and then had the female do several flybys trying to catch one of the many Zebra Finches coming down to drink. 

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

In the same area we also saw Brown Falcon's, Black Kite and a Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) before we headed bck to Marla, on the way Ged spotted a fantastic patch of the stunning Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa) which is the floral emblem of South Australia.

Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa).

Deb and Ian amongst the Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa).

Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa).

Just passed Marla we had a drive out on one of the tracks, on the way out to the point where we turned around wehad a flock of 6 Bourke's Parrots (Neophema bourkii) fly up from the track side and disappear into the distance as usual, Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus), White-fronted Honeyeater, Chiming Wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis), Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis) and Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor).

Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus).

Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus).

We turned around and on the way back Deb heard one of the main target birds that we had missed getting good views of out in the scrub so we stopped and we searched for and eventually had good views of a nice male Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus).

Dingo (Canis dingo).

We continued on along the track back towards Marla, Ian then spotted two Dingo's (Canis dingo) come down the track, the one saw the car and scarppered into the scrub but the other continued for quite a way befor doing the same.

Dingo (Canis dingo).

Dingo (Canis dingo).

Later we returned to the road near Marla and went south to Coober Pedy where we had some food before turning in. 

Heading for Marla, South Australia.

Continuing on our way East and South.

Australia, Day Fourteen.

 

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Today we were leaving the Out Back proper and coming back East to spend the night in the small town of Marla, before we left camp we started the day with Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) x3, Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Torresian Crow (Corvus orru), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens) and Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula).

Painted Finch (Emblema pictum).

Painted Finch (Emblema pictum).

We headed out to a spot we had called at earlier in the trip but this time we walked much further up the valley to a set of water holes amongst the rocks, our main target here were the beautiful Painted Finch (Emblema pictum) and soon after we arrived at the watering holes a pair flew in for a drink giving us some very nice views.

Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica).

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) Female.

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) Male.

In the same area we also had Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Grey-headed (Ptilotula keartlandi) and White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa), Red-browed (Pardalotus rubricatus) and Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), a nosy pair of Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli) and a Monarch like butterfly which I still need to name.

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli).

Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus).

Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

We returned to the vehicle and hearded out East again to another area of the red cliffs and boulders, on the way we picked up Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Budgie's (Melopsittacus undulatus) and at the rocks Mulga Parrots (Psephotus varius) x3, Crimson Chats (Epthianura tricolor), 3 more Black-shouldered Kite, Little Corella, Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), Little Button Quail (Turnix velox) x2, Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) and just as we were about to leave Deb jammed in with brief views of the fast and uncommon Black-footed Rock Wallabie (Petrogale lateralis).

Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata).

Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

Blistered Grasshopper (Monistria pustulifera).

Solanum species possibly Western (Solanum coactiferum).

Again we moved on to a spot where we were looking for Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis) but we only managed to find a small flock of White-browed Babblers (Pomatostomus superciliosus) as well as Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii), Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca), Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), more Little Button Quail, a Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) and just a bit further along the track Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis), several Banded Whitefaces (Aphelocephala nigricincta) as well as my first chance of a picture of Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus).

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca).

When we hit Tarmac again and headed South towards Marla we made a stop in an area of scrub near the road where Ian knew of a small patch of water, here we had our first brief but good views of a small group of 10 Bourke's Parrots (Neophema bourkii) which played very hard to get.

Corkwood, probably Long-leafed (Hakea suberea).

Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus).

Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius).

In this area we also saw Mulga and Australian Ringneck and just down the road at a couple of roadside pools we added Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) and Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) before we went to Marla for something to eat.